Thirteen-year-old Asta has Crouzon syndrome, a condition that stopped her skull from growing as it should. Bullied for her looks, Asta has struggled to feel like she belongs. When her doctor suggests yet another surgery with no guarantee that she’ll look normal after it’s done, Asta feels more discouraged than ever. Then Asta spots some girls from school lifting weights, and she can’t help but be interested. The girls look strong and confident–exactly how Asta wants to feel. When they invite her to join their group, Asta gathers her courage and accepts. Lifting weights helps her appreciate the strength in her body. Even better, the girls who invited her start to feel like friends. But when one of her bullies confronts her and she’s forced to defend herself, her new strength gets her in trouble. Asta is suspended from school, and her mom forbids her from lifting. Will Asta be able to convince her mom that her lifting is worth supporting? Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.
